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The Secret Life of Professor Snape
Alone
Once inside the kitchen, Faustine ran to a cupboard and took out a first aid kit to patch up Ron and Hermione. The teens looked at her with a terrible awe and kept close to the door to try and hear what Snape was doing to Harry. Faustine could feel their fear and swallowed her own insecurities for their sakes. She took them both by hand and set them at the kitchen table. She cleaned and dressed their wounds in painful silence as they focused on the events occurring in the next room.
Harry lie on the table with Snape before him. The room was dark and eerie, lit only by candle light and the fire that burned under a cauldron of simmering potion. Snape shouted incantations and whispered magical charms, but neither revived Harry. McGonagall and Dumbledore barked out spells and placed various enchantments upon him, but they were also ineffective. After a night of vigilant endeavors, the group was overpowered by defeat as Harry began to pass from the world of the living to that of the dead.
Once it was determined that nothing else could be done, Minerva fetched Ron and Hermione. "Mr. Weasley... Miss Granger... I'm so sorry..." she said as tears streamed down her face. Ron shot up, "No!" he screamed with anger. Hermione was unable to speak, she simply looked at Ron with a blank expression. He instantly repressed his anger and took Hermione's hand, escorting her into the dining room where their beloved Harry was dying. Severus and Albus moved away from the table to give the children some space in which to say their goodbyes.
Hermione sat down on a chair next to Harry. Her eyes filled with tears that threatened to fall if she'd let them. Ron stood behind her with a hand on her shoulder for comfort. The two watched in silence as their friend took his last breath and sighed contently into mortality. Minerva sat across from Hermione, stroking the dead child's scar, willing him to come back to life, but he did not. Severus simply stared at Harry, regretting his behavior, and apologizing for his death as his wife held his hand. Faustine was having a difficult time maintaining control of the emotions that filled her. Guilt, remorse, misery, fear, and disappointment radiated from the people in the room and attacked the young pregnant woman. She was very grateful that Dumbledore's feelings did not assault her. He simply stood over Harry's head and did something that he had refrained from for seventeen years, he cried.
The seven remained in their state until morning. As the first rays of dawn entered through the windows, Albus began to formulate his plan to remove Harry. "Severus," he gravely whispered, "Minerva and I will take Harry back to Hogwarts so that he can be buried with his parents. We will apperate from here, but I would like Ron and Hermione to stay." Snape shot Albus a questioning look while Faustine nodded, unquestioningly. The Headmaster explained to Severus that it was not safe for the children to return to the Order's headquarters, to Hogwarts, or to their homes. "Both are wanted by the Death Eaters, for crimes against Voldemort." He said wincing. Ron and Hermione stared at Faustine as her face exuded anger.
She stood, hands writhing, "He did this to this child! How could he? Oh!" she shouted, "I think I am going to be sick!" With that, Faustine ran from the room clutching her stomach. Severus silently followed leaving the five mourners in the dining room.
"What was she on about?" Ron asked with indifference.
Dumbledore coughed uncomfortably. "Faustine Snape is the granddaughter of Tom Riddle," he said despondently. Ron and Hermione's faces dropped with astonishment.
"How is that possible..." Hermione started to ask, but she was cut off by the Snape's return to the room. Both Ron and Hermione gave Faustine fierce looks of hatred. She was related to Voldemort, the man responsible for their friend's death. And she was now guilty by association. Faustine saw these loathsome glances and she felt as though she would burst from within her skin with pity and self-hatred. Hermione pleaded, "Professor Dumbledore, please let Ron and I go to my home in London. We'll lay low and no one will find us."
Dumbledore sighed, "I am afraid that the Dark Lord's minions know where you live my dear and we shall have to remove your parents for their own safety. This house, however, is unknown to all, but Professors Snape, McGonagall and myself. It is protected from Voldemort and his followers by Mrs. Snape."
Hermione and Ron glowered at Faustine. Minerva noticed this and tried to ease their pain. "She is an Occlumency and Legilimency master and has many barriers around this house to keep Him out. Voldemort is dead and his followers have no way of finding you. Here you shall be hidden and well protected. I am sorry Miss Granger, but you and Ron must stay here. Voldemort's subordinates will be after you because you were with Harry when he killed Him..." Professor McGonagall's voice dropped and she covered her mouth with shame as she realized what she had revealed to Faustine. Severus wrapped his arm tighter around his wife to support her.
Faustine let a single tear run down her cheek. "It's alright Minerva. I mourned the loss of my grandfather, as a child. I feel nothing for the Dark Lord, but abhorrence. I am just sad that Lily's child had to die to destroy him." Severus' head dropped at the mention of Lily Potter and a wave of guilt ripped through him because he was unable to protect Harry. Faustine took Severus' hand and held it tightly.
As the dawn completely broke, Dumbledore walked over to Mrs. Snape and kissed her forehead lovingly. He patted Severus' shoulder and then turned to Ron and Hermione, "Take care of each other and remember that we should not be punished for the sins of our forefathers." Albus then took Harry's body and apperated back to Hogwarts with a loud crack.
Professor McGonagall stayed behind for a moment. She put her hands on Ron and Hermione's shoulders. "You will be safe here and you will be together, which is what Harry would have wanted. Please behave as true Gryffindor's should and listen to Severus and Faustine and do not, under any circumstances, leave or do anything that will draw attention to yourselves!" The teens looked around them with disgust and reservation, but stayed when McGonagall apperated back to school. Ron and Hermione stared at each other with anguish. They were alone in a house of strangers.